- The minister for state on aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the contract for the remodelling of the Port Harcourt airport has suffered delays
- He states that the federal government cannot continue to neglect Port Harcourt in terms of airport facilities
- Sirika discloses efforts to ensure possible completion of the project by effecting some variation approvals for the contractor
The minister for state on aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the federal government may revoke the remodelling contract of the domestic wing, Port Harcourt International Airport due to slow pace of work by the contractor.
Sirika made this known to newsmen during an inspection of ongoing construction at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Tuesday, January 23, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
He said that work on the arrival terminal of the domestic wing of the airport, being handled by Inter-Bau Construction Ltd had suffered prolonged delay since inception in 2012.
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Sirika lamented that in spite of all the contract variations that the company had enjoyed from the past and present administrations, it was yet to deliver on the project.
“Unfortunately, this contract was awarded in 2012 and since then the contractor has taken his own speed on delivery.
“In line with the thinking of President Buhari, we had no option than continue with him since he has a legitimate extension and variation approval.
“Since government is a continuum, we decided to pursue this procurement vigorously,” he said.
The minister explained that there was need to ensure quick delivery on the project to enhance economic activities at the airport.
“Federal Government cannot continue to neglect Port Harcourt in terms of airport facilities, as it is one of the most important cities in the country, where our economy is being hatched.
“Unfortunately, this contractor is quite difficult; I’m totally disappointed at his slow pace of work and services,” he said.
The minister also disclosed his efforts to ensure possible completion of the project by effecting some variation approvals for the contractor.
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“As a Minister for State Aviation, I had invited the contractor severally to my office to chart a way forward and I had also approved some variations for him.
“I also made it clear to him that there would be no more variation going forward until this project is delivered.
“We gave him time lines but he is not adhering to the time lines; I’m constrained to take drastic legal action against him when I leave here,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on works, Toby Okechukwu, has disclosed that the federal government is currently owing road contractors the sum of N3 trillion, Vanguard reports.
Okechukwu said there is also an outstanding liability of N300 billion in the ministry of works.
The lawmaker made the disclosure while speaking in Abuja at the just concluded national conference and annual general meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE).
The theme of the event was 'Transport Sector Reforms Bills: Tools for the diversification of Nigerian Economy.'
NAIJ.com gathered that as a result of the debt status, Okechukwu said it would be impossible for government alone to fund the construction of roads.
He noted that the federal government has a commitment to contractors to the tune of N3 trillion with only an annual appropriation of N240 billion.
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Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Wednesday, 24 January 2018